HowStuffWorks.com Breaks Down the Top 10 Myths of Health Care Reform

Fact: Current Bill Comes in at More Than 1,500 Pages; Site Simplifies What Everyone Should Know

ATLANTA - October 29, 2009 -Health care reform is currently one of the most talked-about issues in America, and myths and misconceptions continue to abound. To help separate fact from opinion in this complex and confusing proposal, HowStuffWorks.com, the award-winning, credible online resource that provides easy-to-understand information and explanation for thousands of topics, breaks down the "10 Myths About U.S. Health Care Reform Proposals" in a way that everyone can comprehend.

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Does the plan really hurt small businesses? Will older Americans face "death panels"? HowStuffWorks.com provides the exact answers in layman's terms. "Because health care reform affects everyone, it is crucial for Americans to get the facts straight. HowStuffWorks.com is the perfect resource for information on controversial topics such as this because it's entirely research-based and unbiased," said Conal Byrne, Editor-in-Chief, HowStuffWorks.com. "Often, it is difficult to decipher fact from fiction on the Internet, and we aim to make everyone smarter and more informed about this important subject."

With a goal of answering every question that may arise, HowStuffWorks.com explains why change could be beneficial in "Why Pursue Health Care Reform?" Knowledge-seekers who want the nitty-gritty details can learn even more at "How U.S. Health Care Reform Works," which elaborates on everything from the history of the U.S. health care system to the arguments for and against public health insurance options. For example, below are just a few factoids that may not be common knowledge:

How much does the U.S. currently spend on health care compared to other countries?

Answer: In the U.S., we currently spend approximately $6,000 per person each year on health care, which is $2,797 more than any other industrialized country spends. However, 47 million people are still uninsured.

Did you know that the U.S. health care system was built on something of an accident?

Answer: In the 1940s, employers started offering health insurance as a workplace perk after the government implemented price controls and froze wages to curb wartime inflation. This set the stage for a system in which most citizens receive their health insurance through their employer.

Did President Obama write the health care plan himself?

Answer: Although the current health care reform proposals are frequently termed "Obamacare," these plans weren't written by Barack Obama. Instead, he has laid out his eight requirements and then taken a hands-off approach, leaving it to the Congress to write the bills.

HowStuffWorks.com is an award-winning online resource that provides credible and easy-to-understand information and explanations for thousands of topics. The site has been recognized with multiple Webby Awards and has been prestigiously designated among Time Magazine's "25 Web Sites We Can't Live Without" and PC Magazine's "Top 100 Web Sites." In 2007, HowStuffWorks.com was acquired by Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK).